Misplaced Pages

#972027

84-642: The Holland Range lies just west of the Ross Ice Shelf and extends from Robb Glacier in the northeast to Lennox-King Glacier in the south. To the north of the range is the "island" that holds Cape Lyttelton . To the west, on the west side of Robb Glacier, is the Queen Elizabeth Range . To the south, across the Lennox-King Glacier, is the Queen Alexandra Range . The range was named by

168-484: A first exploration of the area by the Discovery Expedition in 1901–1904, Robert Falcon Scott made a significant study of the shelf and its surroundings from his expedition's base on Ross Island . By measurement of calved ice bergs and their buoyancy, he estimated the ice sheet to be on average 274 meters thick; the undisturbed morphology of the ice sheet and its inverted temperature profile led him to conclude it

252-592: A general term for US operations in that continent, and in particular for the regular missions to resupply US Antarctic bases, coordinated by the United States military . Task Force 199 was involved. The U.S. Navy already had a record of earlier exploration in Antarctica. As early as 1839, Captain Charles Wilkes led the first U.S. Naval expedition into Antarctic waters. In 1929, Admiral Richard E. Byrd established

336-632: A member of the Ross Sea Committee. The northern section of the Holland Range, to the north of the Jacobsen Glacier and Cleaves Glacier , contains Cape Goldie, Mount Mitchell, McSweeney Point, Longstaff Peaks, Mount Rifenburgh and Mount Reid. 82°43′S 165°36′E  /  82.717°S 165.600°E  / -82.717; 165.600 . Mountain, 1,820 metres (5,970 ft) high, standing 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Cape Goldie in

420-566: A naval base at Little America I, led an expedition to explore further inland, and conducted the first flight over the South Pole. From 1934 to 1935, the second Byrd Expedition explored much further inland and also "wintered over". The third Byrd Expedition in 1940 charted the Ross Sea . Byrd was instrumental in the Navy's Operation Highjump after World War II from 1946 to 1947, which charted most of

504-607: A specially trained Navy Construction Battalion , formed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Davisville, Rhode Island and several aircraft. On October 31, 1956, at 8:34 p.m. local time, the first aircraft ever to touch down at the South Pole skied to a halt atop the Antarctic ice sheet at 90 degrees South latitude. The U.S. Navy R4D, was piloted by Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Conrad C. "Gus" Shinn USN and included officer Frederick Ferrara. Immediately after

588-614: A year. The actual transition to Air Guard control began in March 1996. By 1999, the United States Navy had transferred military support operations for Antarctica over to the United States Air Force and its contractor Raytheon Polar Services . Operation Deep Freeze was managed by the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard members of Air National Guard Detachment 13 , a subordinate unit which administratively reported directly to

672-634: Is bordered by steep cliffs, and by Mount Lloyd on the north and Clarkson Peak and Mount Miller on the south. The abrupt southern cliffs rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above the Bowden Névé . Named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 2005 after Joseph Bordogna who served the National Science Foundation as Assistant Director for Engineering (1992–96), Assistant Deputy Director (1996–99), and Deputy Director (1999-2005). Throughout

756-522: Is more than 600 kilometres (370 mi) long, and between 15 and 50 metres (50 and 160 ft) high above the water surface. Ninety percent of the floating ice, however, is below the water surface. Most of the Ross Ice Shelf is in the Ross Dependency claimed by New Zealand. It floats in, and covers, a large southern portion of the Ross Sea and the entire Roosevelt Island located in the east of

840-515: The 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami . OpDFrz Operation Deep Freeze is codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica , beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on. (There was an initial operation before Admiral Richard Byrd proposed 'Deep Freeze'). Given the continuing and constant US presence in Antarctica since that date, "Operation Deep Freeze" has come to be used as

924-654: The Air Staff , and the United States Navy. Among other issues, it was difficult at first for the Air Guard to convince the Air Staff to commit long term resources to an area of the world that had not been declared a warfighting region because of international treaties. The Air Guard had supported military operations in Greenland and the Arctic (including classified U.S. Navy operations) since

SECTION 10

#1732863280973

1008-575: The North Pole to the South Pole and at points in between. The United States along with New Zealand , the United Kingdom , France , Japan , Norway , Chile , Argentina , and the U.S.S.R. agreed to go to the South Pole, the least explored area on Earth. Their goal was to advance world knowledge of Antarctic hydrography and weather systems , glacial movements , and marine life . The U.S. Navy

1092-559: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1960–62. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Elmer G. Worthley , United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) bryologist at McMurdo Sound , 1958–59. 83°04′S 164°40′E  /  83.067°S 164.667°E  / -83.067; 164.667 . Prominent rock ridge, 5 miles (8.0 km) long, located 16 miles (26 km) north of Clark Peak on

1176-692: The United States National Guard announced that the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, New York was slated to assume that entire mission from the United States Navy in 1999. The Antarctic operation would be fully funded by the National Science Foundation. The 109th expected to add approximately 235 full-time personnel to support that operation. The decision to switch from Naval leadership to National Guard

1260-469: The cliffs of Dover ". Ross, who in 1831 had located the North Magnetic Pole , spent the next two years vainly searching for a sea passage to the South Pole; later, his name was given to the ice shelf and the sea surrounding it. Two volcanoes in the region were named by Ross for his vessels. For later Antarctic explorers seeking to reach the South Pole, the Ross Ice Shelf became a starting area. In

1344-448: The 109th would be largely out of business because its primary mission had ended. The unit had been informally keeping tabs on Navy LC-130 operations supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. Because of its aging aircraft fleet and extensive depot maintenance period, the United States Navy asked if the 109th could provide limited emergency search and rescue (SAR) capability for two years to support Operation Deep Freeze, which

1428-449: The Air Guard accepted. At that time, it had no thought of taking over the mission. The 109th believed it to be an exercise in futility for its aircraft to deploy to the Antarctic to merely wait for emergency SAR missions, so it asked if the Navy could help carry cargo to the South Pole . The Navy resisted at first because its procedures and cargo configurations differed from those of the Air Guard, but eventually it agreed. The main mission of

1512-773: The Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland , and operationally reported to United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Honolulu, Hawaii . Upon its deactivation in 2005, the detachment consisted of a full-time officer (Commander) and four full-time non-commissioned officers (Logistics, Communications, Security Forces, and Information Management) which remained in New Zealand year-round. Operational command now belongs to Commander, Thirteenth Air Force as part of USPACOM. In 2005, through

1596-527: The Antarctic coastline. In 1948, Commander Finn Ronne led an expedition that photographed over 450,000 square miles (1.1 million km ) by air. Then in 1954–55, the icebreaker USS Atka made a scouting expedition for future landing sites and bays. The impetus behind Operation Deep Freeze I was the International Geophysical Year 1957–58. IGY as it was known was a collaborative effort among forty nations to carry out earth science studies from

1680-506: The Antarctic continent are overseen by the United States Antarctic Program as well as the National Science Foundation. Military support missions flown from Christchurch International Airport are conducted during the Antarctic summer (late September to early March) each year by The 109th Airlift Wing Scotia New York. The Ski equipped LC-130 Hercules is the backbone of Operation Deep Freeze. LC-130 Hercules aircraft provide

1764-486: The Holland Range, 7 miles (11 km) south of Mount Lloyd. Discovered and named by the BrAE, 1907-09. 83°27′S 166°52′E  /  83.450°S 166.867°E  / -83.450; 166.867 . A prominent pyramidal mountain, 2,755 metres (9,039 ft), standing just south of Fegley Glacier and west of Lennox-King Glacier . Discovered by the BrAE (1907-09) and named for Sir Allen Young , polar explorer who led

SECTION 20

#1732863280973

1848-471: The Holland Range, standing north of the head of Hewitt Glacier, 7 miles (11 km) north of Mount Miller. Discovered and named by the BrAE (1907-09). 83°18′00″S 165°19′00″E  /  83.30000°S 165.31667°E  / -83.30000; 165.31667 A high triangular plateau in the south Holland Range, approximately 45 square miles (120 km) in extent and varying from 3,000 to 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,100 ft) in elevation. The plateau

1932-404: The Holland Range. Discovered by the BrAE (1907-09) and named for Leonard O.H. Tripp, of New Zealand, who gave assistance to this expedition and also to Shackleton's expedition of 1914-17. 83°20′S 167°47′E  /  83.333°S 167.783°E  / -83.333; 167.783 . A peak, 780 metres (2,560 ft) high, standing at the north side of the mouth of Hoffman Glacier, marking

2016-651: The Pole. Amundsen's party survived the 800-mile return trip, Scott's did not. This flight was one part of the expeditions mounted for the IGY. This was not only the first aircraft to land at the South Pole, it was also the first time that Americans had ever set foot on the South Pole. The aircraft was named Que Sera, Sera after a popular song and is now on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida . This marked

2100-474: The Ross Ice Shelf Project was launched with a plan of drilling into the shelf to sample the biomass in the area and make other determinations about the shelf and its relationship to the sea floor. This is believed to be the first oceanographic ice shelf borehole. The project included surface glaciological observations as well as drilling, and the glaciological portion started during the planning phase of

2184-941: The Ross Ice Shelf. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by the US-ACAN after C.E. Driscoll, Master of the USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell during USN OpDFrz 1963. 83°08′S 167°35′E  /  83.133°S 167.583°E  / -83.133; 167.583 . A high, rugged ice-covered promontory which extends eastward from Holland Range between Ekblad and Morton Glaciers. It terminates in Cape Maude overlooking Ross Ice Shelf. Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. V.J. Vaughan, USN, commanding officer of USS Glacier during OpDFrz 1964 and 1965. 83°09′S 168°25′E  /  83.150°S 168.417°E  / -83.150; 168.417 . A high ice-covered cape forming

2268-466: The Ross Ice Shelf. Several tributary glaciers in the Holland Range feed the Lennox-King Glacier. 82°49′S 166°07′E  /  82.817°S 166.117°E  / -82.817; 166.117 . A glacier in the Holland Range, flowing north along the east side of Longstaff Peaks into the Ross Ice Shelf. }Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. E.A. Davidson, USN, Commanding Officer of

2352-487: The Ross Sea Committee for Sir Sidney Holland , who as Prime Minister of New Zealand supported that nation's participation in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1956–58). The Robb Glacier flows from Clarkson Peak north along the east side of Softbed Ridges to the Ross Ice Shelf at Cape Goldie. It flows between the Queen Elizabeth Range to the west and the Holland Range to the east. To

2436-458: The Ross Sea. The ice shelf is named after Sir James Clark Ross , who discovered it on 28 January 1841. It was originally called "The Barrier", with various adjectives including " Great Ice Barrier ", as it prevented sailing further south. Ross mapped the ice front eastward to 160° W. In 1947, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names applied the name "Ross Shelf Ice" to this feature and published it in

2520-514: The South Magnetic Pole. Four days later, they found their way into open water and were hoping that they would have a clear passage to their destination. But on 11 January, the men were faced with an enormous mass of ice. Sir James Clark Ross , the expedition's commander, remarked: "It was an obstruction of such character as to leave no doubt upon my mind as to our future proceedings, for we might with equal chance of success try to sail through

2604-460: The U.S. Navy and Air National Guard C-130s was to airlift fuel and supplies to the National Science Foundation's South Pole Station so that its personnel could survive the isolation of the long Antarctic winter, which lasted from February to October. An Air National Guard working group had been formed to study the idea in 1990. The following year, a dialog began among the Air National Guard,

Holland Range - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-507: The USS Burton Island during USN OpDFrz , 1964. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The western rim of the Holland Range is defined by Benson Ridge, Softbed Ridges, Masquerade Ridge and Clarkson Peak, which rises above the Bowden Névé . 82°46′S 164°48′E  /  82.767°S 164.800°E  / -82.767; 164.800 . Rugged ridge between Robb Glacier and Bondeson Glacier , standing 5 miles (8.0 km) west of

2772-722: The USS Edisto during USN OpDFrz 1963. 82°58′S 167°05′E  /  82.967°S 167.083°E  / -82.967; 167.083 . A glacier flowing east-north-east from Mount Reid, in the Holland Range, into the Ross Ice Shelf. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by US-ACAN for H. Jacobsen, Master of the USNS Chattahoochee during USN OpDFrz 1964 and 1965. 83°04′S 167°17′E  /  83.067°S 167.283°E  / -83.067; 167.283 . A glacier, 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) long, flowing from

2856-501: The analyses have resulted in some interesting theories being posited and publicized. One such opinion, given in 2006 based on a geological survey, suggested that the ice shelf had collapsed previously, perhaps suddenly, which could well happen again. A science team from New Zealand installed a camp in the centre of the shelf in late 2017. The expedition was led by glaciologist Christina Hulbe and brought together oceanographers, glaciologists, biologists and sedimentologists to examine

2940-575: The beginning of the establishment of the first permanent base, by airlift, at the South Pole (today known as the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station ) to support the International Geophysical Year. It was commissioned on January 1, 1957. The original station ("Old Byrd") lasted about four years before it began to collapse under the snow. Construction of a second underground station in a nearby location began in 1960, and it

3024-427: The drilling. The drilling portion of the project was to have begun during 1974, but the actual drilling was delayed until 1976. Finally, in 1977, the scientists were able to drill successfully through the ice, making a hole that could be sampled every few days for three weeks. The team was able to map the sea floor, study the tides, and assess the fish and various other forms of life in the waters. The team also examined

3108-544: The east end of Vaughan promontory, Holland Range, overlooking Ross Ice Shelf. Discovered by the BrAE (1907-09) and named for Col. LA. Maude, who donated the "Maudgee" pony ration for the expedition. 83°13′S 167°35′E  /  83.217°S 167.583°E  / -83.217; 167.583 . A rugged, ice-covered ridge, 14 miles (23 km) long, extending eastward from the Holland Range, between Morton and Hewitt Glaciers, and terminating at Richards Inlet. Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. G.H. Lewis, USN, commanding officer of

3192-481: The east side of Longstaff Peaks into the Ross Ice Shelf. Jacobsen Glacier flows east-north-east Mount Reid into the Ross Ice Shelf. Ekblad Glacier flows from the east slopes of the Holland Range into Wise Bay, Ross Ice Shelf. Lennox-King Glacier is a large valley glacier, about 40 miles (64 km) long, that drains Bowden Névé and flows northeast between the Holland and Queen Alexandra Ranges to enter Richards Inlet on

3276-521: The east side of Robb Glacier. Rocks were collected here by John Gunner and John Splettstoesser in December 1969. The name was suggested by Gunner because the ridge is pictured on the cover of the Feb. 7, 1970 issue of Saturday Review, in which an article about the 1969-70 Ohio State University Geological Expedition to the general area appears. The ridge on the photograph was evidently confused with Coalsack Bluff, and

3360-539: The east slopes of the Holland Range into Wise Bay, Ross Ice Shelf. Named by US-ACAN for A. Ekblad, Master of the USNS Wyandot during USN OpDFrz, 1964 and 1965. 83°02′S 167°35′E  /  83.033°S 167.583°E  / -83.033; 167.583 . An ice-filled inlet at the terminus of Ekblad Glacier, opening on to the Ross Ice Shelf just west of Driscoll Point. Named by the NZGSAE (1959-60) for K.C. Wise, who

3444-666: The first humans to cross the Ice Shelf during its failed attempt to reach the South Pole . Both Roald Amundsen and Scott crossed the shelf to reach the Pole in 1911. Amundsen wrote: "Along its outer edge the Barrier shows an even, flat surface; but here, inside the bay, the conditions were entirely different. Even from the deck of the Fram we were able to observe great disturbances of the surface in every direction; huge ridges with hollows between them extended on all sides. The greatest elevation lay to

Holland Range - Misplaced Pages Continue

3528-553: The glaciers and others the valleys on the ice shelf. From 1967 to 1972 the Scott Polar Research Institute reported extensive observations using radio echo sounding . The technique allowed measurements to be taken from the air; allowing a criss cross track of 35,000 km to be covered; compared with a 3,000 km track from previous seismic sounding on the ground. More detailed surveys were executed between 1973 and 1978. A significant scientific endeavor called

3612-506: The glaciers' surfaces. Once their ice shelves are removed, the glaciers increase in speed due to meltwater percolation and/or a reduction of braking forces, and they may begin to dump more ice into the ocean than they gather as snow in their catchments. Glacier ice speed increases are already observed in Peninsula areas where ice shelves disintegrated in prior years." The Ross Ice Shelf is one of many such shelves. It reaches into Antarctica from

3696-545: The grounding line region of the Kamb Ice Stream . The hot water drill borehole at this site penetrated through over 500 m of snow and ice to an ocean cavity only 30 m deep at this location. As well as sampling the ocean and sediment, it was the first deployment beneath the Ross Ice Shelf of the Remotely operated underwater vehicle Icefin developed at Georgia Tech , a vehicle designed around parameters suitable for exploration of

3780-592: The head of Cleaves Glacier in the Holland Range. Discovered by the BrAE (1907-09) and named for Alfred Reid, manager of the expedition. The southern section of the Holland Range, to the south of the Jacobsen Glacier and Cleaves Glacier, contains the Vaughan Promontory, Cape Maude, Lewis Ridge, Mount Lloyd, Mount Tripp, Rhodes Peak, Mount Miller and Mount Allen Young. 83°13′S 165°44′E  /  83.217°S 165.733°E  / -83.217; 165.733 . A mountain, 3,210 metres (10,530 ft) high, in

3864-497: The head of Davidson Glacier in the Holland Range. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by US-ACAN for Capt. E. Rifenburgh, USN, Commanding Officer of the USS Arneb during USN OpDFrz 1963. 83°03′S 166°01′E  /  83.050°S 166.017°E  / -83.050; 166.017 . A prominent, mainly ice-free mountain, 3,315 metres (10,876 ft) high, standing just east of

3948-442: The help of tackles? Or a great and dangerous fissure, which we should not be able to cross without going a long way round? We naturally expected something of the sort. This mighty and terrible monster would, of course, offer resistance in some form or other," he wrote. "The mystic Barrier! All accounts without exception, from the days of Ross to the present time, had spoken of this remarkable natural formation with apprehensive awe. It

4032-422: The ice, ocean and sediment in the central shelf region. One of the key findings was that the ice in the region was re-freezing. This re-freezing and growth of an ice shelf is not uncommon but the Ross Ice Shelf situation appeared to be very variable as there was no evidence of long-term freezing. A recent study attribute this variability in-part to tidal mixing. A second New Zealand expedition in 2019 traveled to

4116-541: The individual in the foreground of the photograph is not David Elliot, as the caption states. 83°19′S 164°34′E  /  83.317°S 164.567°E  / -83.317; 164.567 . A prominent conical peak, 2,825 metres (9,268 ft) high, at the head of Robb Glacier, on the spur running west from Mount Miller. Sighted in January 1958 by the N.Z. Southern Party of the CTAE (1956-58), and named for Mr. T.R. Clarkson,

4200-458: The liquid cavities of places like Europa . The same New Zealand team returned to another site along the Kamb coast in December 2021, this time drilling through an under-ice river that proved to be essentially oceanic. The team were able to melt through the ice to discover the 250 m deep river had formed a relatively narrow channel beneath the ice. They also recorded evidence of the tsunami generated by

4284-677: The logistical movement of cargo to remote operating locations on the continent. These aircraft are augmented by the United States Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Polar Star , the Air Force Materiel Command , and the Military Sealift Command . The United States Air Force 13th Air Expeditionary Group deploys to Christchurch, New Zealand during the operational season. A documentary on the early missions, Ice Eagles: An Account of American Aviation in Antarctica ,

SECTION 50

#1732863280973

4368-464: The mid-1970s with the ski-equipped C-130s of the 109th Airlift Wing . It convinced Headquarters, United States Air Force that it was not in the nation's best interest to abandon the capability to achieve quick and reliable air access to both polar regions. In March 1993, the U.S. Navy hosted a two-day workshop with representatives of the National Science Foundation, Air National Guard, and other interested parties to explore logistics support options for

4452-452: The mission. The Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six had been flying scientific and military missions to Greenland and the arctic compound's Williams Field since 1975. The 109th operated ski-equipped LC-130s had been flying National Science Foundation support missions to Antarctica since 1988. The official name for the Navy's command in Antarctica was US Naval Support Force Antarctica, (NSFA) Terminal Operations. In early 1996,

4536-461: The mission. When fully transitioned to the Air National Guard, the 109th Airlift Wing would have ten LC-130s in its inventory. These would include upgrades of four LC-130 aircraft in-service with the unit plus three new aircraft and three that would be transferred from the U.S. Navy. Air National Guard estimates of the savings to be realized by consolidating the operation in the hands of the 109th Airlift Wing ranged from US $ 5 million to US$ 15 million

4620-420: The north end of the Holland Range. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1960-62. Named by the US-ACAN for Carl S. Benson, USARP glaciologist at Roosevelt Island, 1961-62. 82°43′S 164°46′E  /  82.717°S 164.767°E  / -82.717; 164.767 . A peak, 840 metres (2,760 ft), at the north end of Benson Ridge overlooking lower Robb Glacier. Mapped by

4704-407: The north of Softbed Ridges it converges with Lowery Glacier , which is to the west, but the two glaciers separate when they reach Taylor Hills . Bondeson Glacier flows north along the east side of Benson Ridge into the lower portion of Robb Glacier. Cleaves Glacier flows northwest from Mount Reid into the east side of Robb Glacier. Further south down the coast, Davidson Glacier flows north along

4788-403: The north part of the Holland Range. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. G.W. Mitchell, Commanding Officer of the USS Burton Island during USN OpDFrz, 1964. 82°54′S 165°42′E  /  82.900°S 165.700°E  / -82.900; 165.700 . A series of high peaks standing just west of Davidson Glacier in

4872-448: The north, and covers an area of about 520,000 km (200,000 sq mi), nearly the size of France. The ice mass is about 800 km (500 mi) wide and 970 km (600 mi) long. In some places, namely its southern areas, the ice shelf can be almost 750 m (2,450 ft) thick. The Ross Ice Shelf pushes out into the sea at between 1.5 and 3 m (5 and 10 ft) a day. Other glaciers gradually add bulk to it. At

4956-537: The north-central part of the Holland Range. Discovered by the BrNAE (1901-04), and named "Mount Longstaff for Llewellyn Wood Longstaff, principal contributor to the expedition. The descriptive term was amended by the NZ-APC. Not: Mount Longstaff. 82°57′S 166°20′E  /  82.950°S 166.333°E  / -82.950; 166.333 . Mountain, 2,690 metres (8,830 ft) high, standing 2 miles (3.2 km) east of

5040-411: The oceanographic and geological conditions as well as the temperature of the ice. They estimated that the base of the shelf was −2.16 °C (27.3 °F). They also made other calculations about the fluctuations of the temperatures. The results of these various projects were published in a series of reports in the 2 February 1979 issue of Science . During the 1980s, a network of weather stations

5124-666: The office of the Secretary of Defense, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command was designated to support the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. CDRUSPACOM delegated this joint operation to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces , who then delegated primary responsibility for execution of the JTF SFA operation to the Commander, 13th Air Force . United States civilian and scientific operations on

SECTION 60

#1732863280973

5208-631: The operation. A draft concept of operations had been prepared by the Air Directorate of the National Guard Bureau in 1993. In February 1996, a commitment was made to transfer the Operation Deep Freeze mission and all LC-130H aircraft operating within the U.S. Department of Defense to the Air National Guard. In September 1996, senior officers from the 109th Airlift Wing briefed the National Guard Bureau on their concept of operations and

5292-613: The original U.S. Antarctic Gazetteer. In January 1953, the name was changed to "Ross Ice Shelf"; that name was published in 1956. On 5 January 1841, the British Admiralty's Ross expedition in the Erebus and the Terror , three- masted ships with specially strengthened wooden hulls , was going through the pack ice of the Pacific near Antarctica in an attempt to determine the position of

5376-429: The period he provided key leadership and guidance to the United States Antarctic Program at a number of critical points in its evolution. 83°17′S 166°53′E  /  83.283°S 166.883°E  / -83.283; 166.883 . A massive, cone-shaped, ice-covered mountain, 2,980 metres (9,780 ft) high, standing between Hoffman and Hewitt Glaciers, 7 miles (11 km) west-north-west of Rhodes Peak in

5460-430: The plane halted--with engines running to avoid a freeze-up (a practice still followed to this day)--U.S. Navy Adm. George J. Dufek., commander of Operation Deep Freeze, stepped out onto the ice, along with pilot Douglas Cordiner, to plant the stars and stripes at the Pole. They were the first to stand there since Briton Robert Falcon Scott did more than 40 years before. Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten Scott in his race to

5544-473: The same time, the freezing of seawater below the ice mass increases the thickness of the ice from 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) . Sometimes, fissures and cracks may cause part of the shelf to break off; the largest known is about 31,000 km (12,000 sq mi), that is, slightly larger than Belgium. Iceberg B-15 , the world's largest recorded iceberg , was calved from the Ross Ice Shelf during March 2000. Scientists have long been intrigued by

5628-423: The seaward end of the ridge descending east from Mount Tripp, Holland Range. Named by US-ACAN for Lt. Cdr. A.G. Rhodes, RNZN, commanding officer of HMNZS Pukaki, ocean station ship on duty between New Zealand and McMurdo Sound in 1964 and 1965. 83°20′S 165°48′E  /  83.333°S 165.800°E  / -83.333; 165.800 . A prominent mountain, 4,160 metres (13,650 ft) high, standing in

5712-414: The shelf and its composition. Many scientific teams researching the Antarctic have made camps on or adjacent to the Ross Ice Shelf. This includes McMurdo Station , built next to the Ross Ice Shelf on volcanic rock. One major effort was a series of studies conducted in 1957 and 1958, which were continued during the 1960–61 season. The efforts involved an international team of scientists. Some parties explored

5796-572: The shelf is "only a few degrees too cool in summer presently to undergo the same kind of retreat process. The Ross Ice Shelf is the main outlet for several major glaciers draining the West Antarctic Ice Sheet , which contains the equivalent of 5 m of sea level rise in its above-sea-level ice." The report added that observations of "iceberg calving " on the Ross Ice Shelf are, in their opinion, unrelated to its stability. Scientific exploration continues to uncover interesting information and

5880-562: The south in the form of a lofty, arched ridge, which we took to be about 500 feet [150 m] high on the horizon. But it might be assumed that this ridge continued to rise beyond the range of vision". The next day, the party made its first steps on the Barrier. "After half an hour's march we were already at the first important point—the connection between the sea-ice and the Barrier. This connection had always haunted our brains. What would it be like? A high, perpendicular face of ice, up which we should have to haul our things laboriously with

5964-460: The status of their preparations to implement Operation Deep Freeze. Under the transition plan which they had developed, the Air National Guard would continue to augment the United States Navy during the October 1996 – March 1997 operating season for the United States Antarctic Program . At the end of the October 1997 – March 1998 season, the Air National Guard would assume command of the program. During

6048-462: The successful search for Benjamin Leigh Smith in the Arctic in 1882. Ross Ice Shelf The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of Antarctica (as of 2013 , an area of roughly 500,809 square kilometres (193,363 sq mi) and about 800 kilometres (500 mi) across: about the size of France). It is several hundred metres thick. The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea

6132-489: The terminus of Davidson Glacier, overlooking the Ross Ice Shelf. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys (1961-62) and Navy air photos (1960). Named by US-ACAN for Lt. R.H. McSweeney, USN, Commanding Officer of the USS Tombigbee during USN OpDFrz 1963. 82°59′S 168°00′E  /  82.983°S 168.000°E  / -82.983; 168.000 Point forming the east side of the entrance to Wise Bay, overlooking

6216-606: The third year of the transition program (October 1998 to March 1999), the U.S. Navy would augment the ANG before the latter took over the entire program the following year. There would be seven LC-130s in theater. They would stage from Christchurch International Airport in Christchurch , New Zealand, to McMurdo Station , Antarctica. Traditional Guardsmen, technicians, and the cadre of Active Guard Reservists specifically brought on board to support Operation Deep Freeze would all be involved in

6300-425: The way for more exhaustive research in later Deep Freeze operations. The expedition transpired over the Antarctic summer of November 1955 to April 1956, and was filmed by the U.S. Navy and Walt Disney Studios . For having designed the emblem of Task Force 43, Walt Disney became an honorary member of the expedition. Task Force 43 consisted of the following ships: The ships of the task force were supplemented by

6384-568: Was a member of the expedition and wintered over in 1959. 82°38′S 165°54′E  /  82.633°S 165.900°E  / -82.633; 165.900 . A cape at the south side of the mouth of Robb Glacier, overlooking the Ross Ice Shelf. Discovered by the BrNAE (1901-04) and named for Sir George Goldie, a member of the committee which made the final draft of the instructions for the expedition. 82°49′S 166°40′E  /  82.817°S 166.667°E  / -82.817; 166.667 . A sharp rock point 3 miles (4.8 km) east of

6468-427: Was as though one could always read between the lines the same sentence: 'Hush, be quiet! the mystic Barrier!' "One, two, three, and a little jump, and the Barrier was surmounted!" Ice shelves are thick plates of ice, formed continuously by glaciers, that float atop an ocean. The shelves act as "brakes" for the glaciers. These shelves serve another important purpose—"they moderate the amount of melting that occurs on

6552-428: Was charged with supporting the U.S. scientists for their portion of the IGY studies. Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd , a veteran of four previous Antarctic Expeditions, was appointed as officer in charge of the expedition. In 1955, Task Force 43, commanded by Rear Admiral George J. Dufek , was formed to provide logistical support for the expedition. Operation Deep Freeze I prepared a permanent research station and paved

6636-490: Was floating on water; and measurements in 1902–1903 showed it had advanced 555 meters northwards in 13.5 months. The findings were presented at a lecture entitled "Universitas Antarctica!" given 7 June 1911 and were published in the account of Scott's second expedition (the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910–1913). Ernest Shackleton 's southern party (Shackleton, Adams, Marshal, Wild) of the 1908 Nimrod expedition were

6720-401: Was installed to record temperatures on the shelf and throughout the more remote parts of the continent. University of Colorado's National Snow and Ice Data Center has been studying ice shelves and, in 2002, announced that, based on several breakups of ice shelves, including Larsen B, has begun to reassess their stability. Their scientists stated that the temperature of the warmest portion of

6804-580: Was later named Williams Field or Willy Field. The Operation Deep Freeze activities were succeeded by "Operation Deep Freeze II", and so on. In 1960, the year of the fifth mission, codenames began to be based on the year (e.g., "Operation Deep Freeze 60"). The Coast Guard sometimes participated; among others, the USCGC Northwind , the USCGC Polar Sea and the USCGC Glacier occasionally supported

6888-584: Was one of a cost-saving measure due to post cold war budget cuts. The possibility of the Air National Guard assuming operational control of the mission had first emerged in 1988. The 109th Airlift Wing had been notified that, almost overnight, one of the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW) radar sites that it supported in Greenland was going to be shut down. The other sites would soon follow, and

6972-416: Was scheduled to be released in 2016. Lockheed Martin is currently the prime contractor for the National Science Foundation's United States Antarctic Program. The contract award was announced via a NSF press release on 28 December 2011 after a bid solicitation process of almost four years. Support operations began on 1 April 2012. The original contract synopsis indicated that the government was contemplating

7056-519: Was used until 1972. The station was then converted into a summer-only field camp until it was abandoned in 2004–05. The mission's second base, Byrd Station , was a (former) research station in West Antarctica established by the US Navy for Operation Deep Freeze II during the International Geophysical Year. The United States Antarctic Program airfield, built to service Operation Deep Freeze (first mission)

#972027